I am having trouble getting my truck into gear lately. I really have to finesse it into gear (almost all gears the same, although a little easier as you go into higher gears). It also grinds going into gear sometimes, even with the clutch in. There is no slippage in the clutch at all and all the fluids are new last month. Someone told me there is a plate in the firewall behind the clutch pedal that can crack and cause you to lose travel, hence not disengaging all the way. Anyone had experience with this?

*crosses fingers* "Please don't be the tranny" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

How many miles / years on the clutch / pressure plate assembly? Could be a collapsed pressure plate - a simple issue compared to the cracked issue...

I have.....the pedal bracket cracked, and actually the spot welds broke away from the body. Had to cut through the top of the cab under the vents @ the windshield wipers, make another bracket and screw attach back to the body. It was either that or remove the ENTIRE dash and tack it back. I really didn't have time or energy for that. It's been holding for over 5 years now.......You should be able to look under the dash, press the pedal and see if the rod to the master cylinder is traveling, or if the bracket is moving.
If that is not the problem, then it sounds like a bad pressure plate. The springs weaken and will not separate the disk from the flywheel. SO basically you're replacing the clutch at that point.

good luck.

id put money on it to say that its your clutch hydraulic system. either the clutch master or slave cylinder. its pretty common. there might be air in the system or one/both of them may be bad. have you noticed any brake fluid leaking from the clutch master cylinder pushrod onto your floor?

Pilot bearing or throw out bearing.

Thanks for the input. I have no fluid leaks at all, either inside or outside. I have a centerforce dual friction clutch with about 50,000km on it. The flywheel turned, new shifter seat bushing, etc. All done in March 2003. What should I look for first?

even if the clutch master/slave arent bad, air in the lines will cause the same problem. when you said all new fluids, did you mean in the tranny or the hydraulic system? it probably just needs to be bled correctly.

I did not replace any fluids in the clutch system. I will try bleeding the system this weekend and see if that helps, although I know the fluid is topped up where is should be. I will also try to look at this so called "plate" behind the pedal. Anyone know what I'm looking for? I assume its behind the pedal underneath the carpet etc.?

This one is a great thread to toggle:

http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showf...31519&fpart=1&PHPSESSID=

Follow your clutch up to the firewall.

Using the factory service manual procedure, check and adjust your clutch pedal height and free play settings. If you've got a floor mat or something in the way, you may need to reset your pedal height. I was reading a thread on PBB recently too where people where having similar problems with their CF DF clutches. As I mentioned over there, if its not disengaging, its either your pilot bearing or the pedal height needs to be increased to give the clutch more "throw."

The pedal bracket is definitely something to check though. Its a common problem on the T100's, which is what that thread linked above is from.